Wire-holding fence post



April 15, 1930. G. GARTNER 1,754,712

WIRE HOLDING FENCE POST Filed Feb 14, 1929 us Javi/.Zwar

Patented Apr. 15, 1930 PATENT OFFICE GUST GARTNER, F CARROLL, NEBRASKAWIRE-HOLDING- FENCE POST Application led February 14, 1929. Serial No.339,987.

rIhis invention relates to improvements in fence posts and pertainsparticularly to a post having associated therewith an .1mproved meansfor attaching fence wlres thereto.

The primary object of this invention is to provide, in association witha fence post .an improved means for securing a fence wire thereto, whichmeans permits of the attachment of the wires to the post withoutemployment of wrenches, pliers, or other tools.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide, in association with afence post structure, a wire holding means which may be readily shiftedfor the release of any portion of the fence wire, as desired.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention willbe best understood from a consideration of the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming apart of the present invention with the understanding, however,

that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing of the drawing, but may be changed or modified so long as suchchanges or modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the fence postof the character embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the post with a portion thereofin' section;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3 3 ofFigure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral l indicates generally afence post which in the present instance is shown as being, of squarecross sectional design and which is preferably constructed of steel, thepost being hollow and having one end tapered to form a groundpenetrating point 2. Formed through one wall of the post body is alongitudinal series of apertures 3, which apertures are formed to snuglyreceive a nut member forming a part of the wire holding device andhereinafter `described in detail, the formation ofthe aperture beingsquare7 octagonal, or hexagonal in accordance with the type of nut used.In the wall opposite that having the passages 3 therethrough, there isformed a series of smaller passages 5, cach being alined with the centerof one of the polygonal apertures referred to and through each of thesesmaller apertures there ef-:tended a long shank portion 6l of asubstantially J-shaped bolt 7, the end 8 of the return or hook portion 9of the bolt being designed to abut the outer yface of the adjacent wallof the post.v

Surrounding the shank of each of the bolts 7 in transverse alignmentwithk the end 8 thereof is a movement limiting collar 10, which bearsagainst the face of the adjacent wall of the post to limit the movementof the shank inwardly through its aperture 5 in the manner hereinafterdescribed in detail.

The shank portion 6 of each bolt is of sulficient length to extendthrough an opposite aperture 3 and is threaded to receive thereon a nut11 which snugly positions in the aperture and thereby facilitates thethreading of the bolt shank 6 therethrough when the return portion 9 ofthe bolt is rotated.

Surrounding the shank of eachbolt 7 within the body of the post is acoil spring 12, one end of which bears against a wall of the post, whilethe other end bears against the nut 11. Y

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that when anumber of bolts 7 are in position in the post body a wire fence, or aseries of horizontal fence wires may be secured to the post by graspingthe hook portion 9 of the various bolts and pulling them outwardlyagainst the tension of the spring l2 and then slipping into the hook thewire to be held thereby, one of the wires being indicated in the drawingby the numeral 13. Upon releaseof the bolt the spring 12 will draw thesame back to its former position, where the movement limiting plate 10will bear against the adjacent wall of the post and the end of the hook9 will-be brought to position against the post orinto such closeproximity thereto that the wire cannot be removed without again pullingthe bolt outwardly.

It will be readily seen that the application of the bolts to the postbody is relatively simple as it is only necessary to first position aspring in the post in alignment with the apertures 3 and 4, then extendthe shank portion l6 of a bolt first through the aperture 5, thenthrough the spring and finally through the aperture 3, in which asuitable nut 11 may be previously positioned.

After the threads of the shanks have taken a hold in the threadedaperture' of the nut the bolt can be rotated and the nut drawn onto theend thereof, it being held against rotation by its snug engagement inthe shape conforming aperture in which it is positioned.

At the lower end of the fence post just above the tapered portion 2,there is secured to one wall the plate 14 having the laterallyprojecting wings 15, the lower edges of which are sharpened, as shown,and indicated by the numeral 16. These wings penetrate the ground withthe post and act to prevent any swaying or rotation thereof in theground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. Thecombinationwith a fence post body, of a wire holder comprising asubstantially J-shaped bolt having the long side thereof reciprocablyextended through the post body, a nut carried upon the terminal of saidlong end. and slidably mounted in one wall of the body, and a springsurrounding. the bolt and interposed between said nut and an oppositewall of the body and acting to draw the hooked end of the bolt againstan outer face of the body to maintain a fence wire in positionthereagainst.

2. The combination with a fence post body, of a wire holder comprising asubstantially J-shaped. bolt having the long side thereof reciprocablyextended through the post body, a nut carried upon the terminal of saidylong end and slidably mounted in onewall of the body, and a springsurrounding the bolt and interposed between said nut andan opposite wallof the body and acting to draw the hooked end of the bolt against anouter face of the body to maintain a fence wire in positionthereagainst, said nut being mounted to reciprocate with the bolt in anaperture in the wall of the post of the same configuration as and snuglyreceiving itself.

3. In combination with a fence post structure, comprising' a body ofhollow construction, a plurality of substantially J-shaped bolt memberseach having the shank portion thereof" extending transversely throughthe body andreciprocably engaging'in opposite walls thereof', a nutthreadably receivedl upon the free end of each shank and reciprocablyand snugly positioned in an aperture in the wall of conforming outline,a spring member surrounding each. of said: shankswithin signature.

GST GARTNER.

